Disgruntled Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) lawmakers and their allies in the coalition government on Monday submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani as political crisis deepened.
The tug of war between Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani and angry members of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has intensified as efforts made so far by different quarters to find out a solution to the crisis could not succeed.
Why lawmakers have submitted the motion?
Mr Alyani has been accused of an authoritative approach, which precludes consultation on important matters such as the distribution of development funds even within his cabinet. The no-confidence motion, signed by 14 lawmakers was submitted to the secretariat of the Balochistan Assembly.
The disgruntled members, in the no-confidence motion, asserted during the three years of Alyani’s term as the chief minister, there has been unemployment, unrest, and frustration in the province.
The motion claimed that the provincial cabinet members had informed the chief minister about the issues of Balochistan, but he did not pay heed to them. “Due to Jam Kamal’s lukewarm attitude, there has been gas, water, electricity, and economic crisis,” it stated.
Furthermore, the disgruntled members sought the removal of Alyani as the chief minister and called for the election of a new provincial chief, who had the majority’s support.
Lawmakers resigned
A group of disgruntled ministers, advisers and parliamentary secretaries submitted their resignations to the provincial governor after an embattled Jam Kamal Khan Alyani ignored the 24-hour deadline set by his opponents for him to step down as chief minister.
The angry group met Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmed Agha at the Governor House late in night and handed over their resignations to him. Most of the members of the angry group belongs to the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
Those who resigned were Minister for Finance Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Minister for Food Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, Minister for Social Welfare Mir Asad Baloch, advisers to the CM Akbar Askani and Mohammad Khan Lehri, parliamentary secretaries Bushra Rind, Mahjabeen Sheeran, Lala Rashid Baloch and Sikander Umrani.
Will the lawmakers succeed?
The no-confidence motion will be sent by the Balochistan Assembly Secretariat to the provincial governor. If he approves it, a session of the assembly will be convened in 7-10 days to discuss the motion.
The Chief Minister cannot ignore the deadline and go about his role, as he has been doing so far. He must urgently negotiate with at least some party or group if he wants to stay on as Chief Minister.
He must find a way to talk to his own cabinet and party members. Otherwise, the group has the numbers to pass a no-confidence vote, which will only usher in more instability for the Balochistan government. The last thing the province needs is political strife when development must remain a priority.
